Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1887-12-16

| Inc next day, there being several Mexlcal
merchants to start for Vera Cruz, Mr.. Henr,
Yorke, of Wood & Co., was dispatched will
them in the morning stage. He went wei
armed, and had the name Of being fighting
man. But as yet no crowd Of Mexican pas
sengers has frightened a band of robber
from its enterprise, and SO, at sunrise, York;
discovered two small squads of horsemci
bearing down on the stage from opposite di
rections.
There are six of them" he said, "and ",
| are nine men, with only one woman. Ar,
we TO fight, gentlemen, or shall we sur
renderr
"Mexicans never surrender cried one Of
them. I'VE will fight TO the last drop OF
blood"
Yes always" answered the other eight
II shall be killed; oh, shall be killed.
shrieked the frightened woman.
I'VE shall defend you, sonora they de
clared The horsemen drew near All weri
masked and armed. One party passed the
coach, wheeled and instantly returned
Meanwhile Yorke sprang from the stage
which had stopped, and calling TO his fellow
passengers to join him, fired his rifle at the
nearest Of the gang and killed him. He then
began discharging his revolver as they closed
in on him. and looking about for his com
panions, discovered them all in their seats,
pallid spectators of his rccklessness. In ali.
other instant pistol ball struck him down.
Evidently the ladrones had only contempt
for the Mexican passengers, for they rode d.
rectly forward TO the fallen American, whose
body they mercilessly hacked TO pieces with
their sabers, for a warning to all who resist
ed their robberies.
The entire treasure Of Wood & Co was
taken from the person of Yorke and his va
lise. and the passengers, the lady not ex-
cepted, were robbed of every article they
possessed, even TO their outer clothing
When the ladrones left their captain opened
an embroidered jacket, revealing the form OF
a woman, and cried out with a sneei you
are men, Adiosr
When the stage, returning, ewered the
patio of the Hotel Iturbide with the body OF
Mr.. Yorke, il was met by Wood, To whom
the lady passenger declared that his partner
had been killed by an Englishman of the
band, whose lower face was ruddy, narrow
and thin, ending in a little shadowy beard :
that he had reached into the coach and shot
Yorke in the back, through the open door
way of the opposite side, as be was firing
rapidly at the gang, and that as he with
drew his head his beard dropped from bis
chin and she had secured it.
At 10 o'clock that morning he went 10 the
English bank with the woman, and presented
a check for payment. As the teller laid down
the money he saw the little wad of beard on
the counter, picked it up, and, looking at it
curiously. said: what is thsi' At the same
moment, Mr.. Wood discovered that his com
panion trembled violently and was becoming
pale, and lost no time in leaving
the bank.
The woman was sure Of the identity of the
man, and would listen to no possibility of her
mistake. As for Mr.. Edgar Wood, he was
but he did the customary thing,
and set an English detective on the track Of
Mr.. Carlos Watfils, the teller Of the English
bank Of Mexico
The next payment went 20 the line in
charge Of paymaster and a mounted guard,
Of whom the chief was one Of the most sue
cessful ladrones of Mexico he gave safe con-
duct to the treasure, for which he was well
paid
Two months passed No outward sign in
Dictated any depravity on the part OF Mr..
Watfils. He lived modestly, and seemed
retiring, rather studious man. His sole dissi-
patton was his horseback ride each morning
md night.
The time had come for another payment 10
he men Of the contractor, and again Wood
to 60 in person with the money,
lnd by stage. This time he selected a day
when a fair complement Of Mexican men,
having commercial relations with Vera
Cruz, would travel, and went accompanied
llso by two Americans, armed with rifles and
'evolvers.
The English detective, with companion,
10Th well armed, rode out in the same direc-
ion half hour after the stage left. The
Dad had not been so infested of late. but the
Americans understood the danger To which
hey were exposed in the transportation of
reasure, and made their disposition accord
ngly. Mr. Wood and one companion occu-
lied the front seat of the coach. looking 10
he rear; the third man of the party sat with |
he driver, being a crack shot with a Win !
hester rifle.
When they stopped for coffee. at O'Clock. |
10 one had appeared To modest the stage, or |
reate suspicion. As they left the little inn |
he detective appeared in sight, but the stage |
made no delay, and the party were again on |
heir way.
suddenly the inside passengers detected the |
iolN VI INC NliNti ~ hlpJ us tulnhIOuS |
cam, and heard the voice of the American |
" his side shout to him. "If you stop. I'll kill |
GU; drive OH and drive hard Then rifle |
hot, and another shout as he passed down |
rs rifle, and called for fresh one which he |
eceived at once.
Mr., Wood and his companions, looking |
rom the coach, saw they were pursued by |
light horsemcn, who were not now within 200 |
ards at the rear. Leaning from the coach |
1indow be cried out to the driver, IF those
elbows catch us you are "A dead man The
hreat told wonderfully on the speed Of the
1am.
Meanwhile the band approached. and the
lree Americans fired together. throwing the
ldroneS into confusion and forcing halt
ut they rallied at once, and six horsemen of
ne eight were drawing near when the
rivers companion by another shot brought
man to the ground. At this moment the
elective ana his guard appeared in the rear
the band, and Mr.. Wood ordered the
river 10 slow down. The robbers discov-
red the trick, for, turning they saw the
p enforcement in their rear, and lost no time
,aving the road and making Off across the
alley toward the mountains.
The stage met no further adventure, and
lr. Wood was able 10 return To Mexico in a
eek. The afternoon of his arrival he ac-
the English Bank manager and
nc detective To the hospital at Guadalupe
nd foundthcre, to the surprise of the man
ger, the teller Mr.. Carlos Wattils, suffering
'om shattered leg.
tp,.l "a. Z, - !